Scramble: Flute
By Todd Stalter
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PC-0015366_F1
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Description
A rousing concert opener or closer, "Scramble" is intended to aurally depict two characteristics of its title---collecting things together in a disorderly way, and moving quickly with a sense of urgency. The theme and its harmonic structure are presented at the beginning, and its musical "parts" are imaginatively separated and combined in unique and haphazard combinations throughout the piece, all at a frantic pace. (2:05) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Scramble: Flute comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
168
SKU:
00-PC-0015366_F1
More about this title
About the Composer: Todd Stalter
Todd Stalter built a legendary 34-year tenure as Director of Bands at Eureka High School in Illinois, establishing a program recognized statewide for consistent excellence. His marching band earned 16 Class 1A state championships, his concert band accumulated Superior ratings at IHSA contests, and his ensembles performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Walt Disney World, along with championship appearances at the Cotton and Liberty Bowls. He was inducted into the Illinois State Marching Band Championships Hall of Fame.
Beyond his high school leadership, Stalter has guest-conducted All-State Bands in Georgia and Delaware and numerous regional honor bands. His work as an adjudicator and clinician spans solo and ensemble evaluation, large group assessment, and conducting seminars at the Illinois Music Educators Conference, Delaware Music Educators Association, and Illinois State University. His compositions for band and string orchestra have earned publication in the "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" series and appear regularly on state contest and festival lists across the United States. Stalter holds degrees from Illinois State University, including a Bachelor of Music Education (cum laude) and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance.
Why we love this
Stalter captures the literal energy of his title with music that actually scrambles and recombines its own material, making the compositional concept audible rather than descriptive. The frantic pace and imaginative orchestration keep the ensemble engaged throughout, while the Grade 3 level ensures accessibility without sacrificing musical substance. It's a perfect opener or closer that leaves audiences energized and your band thinking about how the same musical ingredients can create wildly different textures.
What to expect
Controlled chaos. The piece moves with relentless energy, tossing musical fragments between sections in unexpected sequences while maintaining a driving sense of forward motion. Dissonance and rapid orchestral shifts create urgency without feeling random; there's a musical logic beneath the scramble that becomes clear on repeated hearings.
Who it's for
Band directors looking for a contemporary opener with genuine compositional substance, not just flash. This work suits bands confident enough to embrace modern harmonic language and comfortable with rapid sectional independence, making it ideal for Grade 3 ensembles with solid fundamentals.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a clear pulse with the woodwinds early in the piece; the rapid combinations of material demand a steady metric anchor so the band doesn't rush through the harmonic shifts.
- Mark the dynamic swells and sudden drops in your score; they're essential to creating the sense of urgency and chaos that defines the piece.
- Rehearse the transitions between haphazard material combinations separately, then layer them back together so each section knows precisely when to enter and exit its fragment.
- Lean into the contemporary harmonic language rather than smoothing it out; the slightly unsettling quality of the writing is intentional and adds to the scrambling effect.
How to use it
Open a concert with "Scramble" to set an energetic tone and signal that the evening will feature contemporary music with substance. Its 2:05 duration also makes it an excellent closer if you need to reset energy or leave the audience on an exhilarating note.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing rapid rhythmic fragments across changing meter and harmonic contexts
- Balancing ensemble blend when musical material is distributed unpredictably across sections
- Responding to frequent dynamic shifts and textural changes with precision and control
- Interpreting contemporary compositional techniques including layered dissonance and non-traditional orchestration